Bell, April 12, 2026 - Fort Worth, TX – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has been selected for the fourth phase of the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next competition.
John Novalis II, strategic director, Flight School Next, Bell, said “Bell is proud to be selected for the fourth phase of the Flight School Next competition alongside our teammates. From the very beginning, our team set out to deliver the most cost-effective and low-risk solution for the Army’s Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) program at Fort Rucker, leveraging Bell’s unique position as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and world leader in flight training. Making it to this stage proves that Bell’s solution is strong and we look forward to demonstrating our ability to execute.”
During phase four, Bell and our teammates, DigiFlight, Delaware Resource Group (DRG), V2X, Alpha 1 Aerospace, Semper Fly and TRU Simulation, will demonstrate to the Army our turnkey solution to include the Bell 505 along with the technology and innovation that supports execution of the program. Additionally, Bell and our teammates are moving forward with preparations for program execution. Bell will be ready to support from day one.
Bell is excited about the opportunity to partner with the Army for Flight School Next. Flight training is in our DNA, and we have the right team, aircraft, and an innovative solution to transform Army flight training at Fort Rucker.
About Bell : Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 90 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us. We're an aerospace and defense company that engineers and manufactures aircraft for critical solutions in extreme scenarios. We're breaking barriers in lifting people to safety across transportation, medical, rescue and military services, and leading the industry in future solutions that are fast, reliable and efficient.
Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours. Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.
About Textron : Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training
John Novalis II, strategic director, Flight School Next, Bell, said “Bell is proud to be selected for the fourth phase of the Flight School Next competition alongside our teammates. From the very beginning, our team set out to deliver the most cost-effective and low-risk solution for the Army’s Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) program at Fort Rucker, leveraging Bell’s unique position as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and world leader in flight training. Making it to this stage proves that Bell’s solution is strong and we look forward to demonstrating our ability to execute.”
During phase four, Bell and our teammates, DigiFlight, Delaware Resource Group (DRG), V2X, Alpha 1 Aerospace, Semper Fly and TRU Simulation, will demonstrate to the Army our turnkey solution to include the Bell 505 along with the technology and innovation that supports execution of the program. Additionally, Bell and our teammates are moving forward with preparations for program execution. Bell will be ready to support from day one.
Bell is excited about the opportunity to partner with the Army for Flight School Next. Flight training is in our DNA, and we have the right team, aircraft, and an innovative solution to transform Army flight training at Fort Rucker.
About Bell : Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 90 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us. We're an aerospace and defense company that engineers and manufactures aircraft for critical solutions in extreme scenarios. We're breaking barriers in lifting people to safety across transportation, medical, rescue and military services, and leading the industry in future solutions that are fast, reliable and efficient.
Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours. Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.
About Textron : Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training
Cairns AAF / Fort Rucker See also |
Bell 505 Jet Ranger X
US Army Aviation “Flight School Next” Program
Bell 505 Advances in Flight School Next Program
US Army Aviation School US Army Aviation 
